Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #16’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘Podaras #16’, characterized by its compact and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; sterile light violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PODARAS #16’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant, botanically known as Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Podaras #16’.

The new Buddleja plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ithaca, N.Y. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and sterile Buddleja plants with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Buddleja plant originated from a cross-pollination on Jan. 17, 2007 in Ithaca, N.Y., of an unnamed selection of Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Buddleja plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Ithaca, N.Y. in August, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Buddleja plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in West Chicago, Ill. since February, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Buddleja plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Buddleja have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Podaras #16’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Podaras #16’ as a new and distinct Buddleja plant:

-   -   1. Compact and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Sterile light violet-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Buddleja differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja are more compact than and not as         open as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have dark purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Buddleja differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja are taller than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja are more rounded than and not as         outwardly spreading as plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Buddleja are smaller and narrower         than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Buddleja can be compared to plants of Buddleja davidii ‘Pink Delight’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Buddleja and ‘Pink Delight’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja were shorter than plants of ‘Pink         Delight’.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja and ‘Pink Delight’ differed in         leaf color as plants of ‘Pink Delight’ had silvery-colored         leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Buddleja and ‘Pink Delight’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Pink Delight’ had bright pink-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Buddleja plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Buddleja plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Podaras #16’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Podaras #16’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Arroyo Grande, Calif. under commercial practice during the summer in 12.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 21° C. and night temperatures averaging 7° C. Plants were pinched two times and were five months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia     ‘Podaras #16’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Buddleja             davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Buddleja             davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, winter.—About two to three             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About three to four             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Deciduous perennial shrub; compact and             outwardly spreading habit; broad inverted triangle; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 38 cm by 42 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About twelve main branches per             plant. Length: About 26 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode             length: About 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture,             developing stems: Tomentose. Texture, mature stems: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, developing: Close to 190C. Color, mature:             Close to N199A to N199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Slightly serrulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N138C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 195B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 196A; venation, close to 196A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 194B. Color, lower surface: Close to 194C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers             arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face upright             and outward; panicles roughly conical in shape; freely             flowering habit with about 255 flower buds and flowers             developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; sweet.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three             months after planting; flowering continuous from spring             until frost in California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three to four             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to 90B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower throat, diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Flower tube, length.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower tube, diameter at base.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl; petals fused into a narrow tube. Lobe length: About             3 mm. Lobe width: About 3 mm. Lobe shape: Roughly spatulate.             Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Erosulate, slightly             crinkled. Texture, upper and lower lobe surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, throat: Slightly pubescent. Texture,             tube: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petals, upper             surface: Close to 90C. Developing petals, lower surface:             Close to N88C. Fully expanded petals, upper surface: Close             to N88C; venation, close to N88C; color becoming closer to             91B with development. Fully expanded petals, lower surface:             Close to N88D; venation, close to N88D. Throat: Close to             167D; venation, close to 167D. Tube: Close to 177D;             venation, close to 177D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; campanulate calyx. Length:             About 1.5 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Angle: Arching outwardly to drooping. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Lanulose. Color: Close to 195B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 148C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four; filaments adnate to the corolla tube. Filament length:             About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 163C. Anther shape:             Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close             to 162D. Pollen amount: None. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 3.5 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma             color: Close to 145A. Style length: About 1.5 mm. Style             color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Flowers of plants of the new Buddleja are             sterile and seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Buddleja. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #16’ as illustrated and described. 